DEAF AND DUMB THIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19658, 9 June 1927, Page 15

DEAF AND DUMB THIEF.

KEY OF SHOP OBTAINED. ACT DESCRIBED. BY SIGNS. SAVINGS IN BOX AT HOME. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] ■ NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday. An unusual case was heard in the Police Court to-day, when a man, aged 26, who was deaf and dumb, and said to bo mentally deficient, was charged with the theft- of 74 cheque forms valued at 12s 2d, and with obtaining £5 5s by means of a valueless cheque drawn on ! the National Bank of New Zealand at New Plymouth, and signed "Samuel Smithson." Tho cheque forms had been obtained from the premises of Joseph S. Watson, second-hand dealer. The evidence showed that accused was brought to Watson's shop, and by means of written explanations and signs he indicated that he had obtained the key of the shop, which he entered one evening, and cut the cheque forms out of a book. On leaving the shop someone had taken the key from him, and he indicated that person by the name of Grone, of Mangorei. The police, however, could not find anyone of that name. Accused had indicated that ho had burned the forms. The cheque for £5 5s had been cashed in a local grocery shop where accused was known, but it was later returned by the bank marked "No funds." Detective Meiklejohn, in giving evidence of his interview with accused, who had been brought in by his father to make explanations regarding the cheque, said he formed the opinion from some of accused's answers to questions that accused was not of normal mentality, lie had over £25 in his possession, and in a box at his home there was other money amounting to nearly £4O. Witness admitted that it would be possible for accused to save this sum from his earnings as a wickerworker. Counsel for accused suggested that, in view of accused's mentality, the case should be adjourned sine die in order that arrangements might be made for the proper care of accused in an institution. Unfortunately, added counsel, there was no half-way house. Accused was either sane and guilty or insane and innocent. Counsel said that during inquiries into the case it had been found that the name "Samuel Smithson" had been copied from an accountancy copybook, which had s'ince been destroyed. Accused had £6l saved out of his earnings, and this had been banked on his behalf in the namo of a trustee. The magistrate adjourned the case as suggested, and made an order suppressing the names of accused and his father.